Psychologist to help Chinese athletes handle pressure

Xinhua Beijing, July 30 (Xinhua) With just ten days left for Beijing Games, Olympic bound Chinese men’s and women’s teams are being given pressure-releasing psychological aid in their training camps. Psychologist Ding Xueqin, vice chairman of China Sports Psychology Society and professor of China Institute of Sports Science, has been appointed to look after the Chinese squad.

Pivot of the men’s handball team Yan Liang said the sessions have been quite effective in combating the pressure.

“When I first came into the national squad, I was too nervous to fall asleep, let alone having good performance in games,” Yan said.

“But this kind of psychological aid has proved to be very effective. The one and a half hours’ aid is more important for me than three hours’ training. A good athlete must learn to control the pressure,” he added.

Besides the Chinese handball squad, Ding has been giving professional psychological aid to several Chinese national teams like the gymnastics and the badminton teams. Xinhua